Exercising device



Jan- 19, 1937-` E. JJ'sTRoNAcl-l 2,068,578

' EXERCISING DEVICE Filedv AM; f.l,l;5.. 1935 INVENTOR.

.HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED srArs ERATE? FFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an exercising device.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved exercising device which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efcient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved exercising device embodying novel means for varying or regulating the resistance offered to movement of the same by the operator.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

'I'he invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a preferred form of the new exercising device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the same, on line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse or horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

A preferred form of the new exercising device is illustrated in the drawing, is therein generally indicated at I0, and comprises a supporting base II upon which is mounted a cylinder I2 which is adapted to contain a quantity of any suitable substantially incompressible liquid such, for example, as oil, water.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder I2 is a piston I3 in which are provided openings I4.

The piston I3 is carried by a piston rod I5 and this piston rod I5 has an end portion I6 which projects exteriorly of the cylinder I2 above the upper end of the latter; and attached to the upper end portion I6 of the piston rod I5 is a tubular member I'I in which is slidably mounted a second tubular member I8. These tubular members I'I and I8 are telescopically adjustable relative to each other and are latchable in a preselected position by means of an adjustable element in the form of a thumb screw I 9 which engages in a groove 21 which is formed in the tubular member I8.

Slidably mounted in the tubular member I8 is a portion 20 which has a hand grip portion 2| and this handle member 2li- ZI and the tubular member I8 are telescopically adjustable relative to each other by means of a thumb screw 22, which is adapted to engage a groove 28 which is formed in the portion 20 of the handle member 2li-2|.

Mounted on the cylinder I2 is a by-pass tube Operation In the use of the new exercising device a suitable incompressible flud such, for example, as oil, water or the like, may be arranged in the cylinder I2 and the extensions I 7, I8, and 2U of the piston rod I5 may be adjusted to any desired predetermined height, suitable to the height of the operator, whereupon the extensible parts I'I-IB- and 2|] may be latched in a preselected pgsition by means of the thumb screws I9 and 2 The vertical shaft I'I-IS-Z and the piston rod I5 and its attached piston I4 may then be operated up and down in the cylinder I2 by alternately raising and lowering the handle grip 2|; and during the down stroke of the piston I3 the liquid in the cylinder I2 will travel through the openings I4,

The resistance offered to the movement of the piston I3 in the cylinder I2 may be regulated to suit the operator of the device by adjusting the valve 26 in the by-pass 25 which is normally closed by the valve 26, the ports I4 in the piston I3 normally allowing the liquid in the cylinder I2 to pass therethrough with sumcient speed to permit operation of the device by the average person without diiiiculty. However, if it is desired, for example, to decrease the resistance offered to the movement of the piston I3 in the cylinder I2, the valve 26 may be partially or entirely opened, therebyallowing the liquid in the cylinder I2 to ow through the by-pass 25 into the upper area of the cylinder I2, on the down stroke of the piston, and to flow in the opposite direction, that is, into the lower area of the cylinder I2, on the upward stroke of the piston.

The present exercising device is particularly useful in exercising the abdominal and back muscles and the ready adjustment of the eective length of the vertical shaft or piston rod I5-I 1-I8-20, together with the by-pass 25 and valve 26, permit adjustment of the device to the various needs of different persons.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eiect, this is capable of variation and modication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In an exercising device, the combination of: a supporting base; a cylinder mounted upon said supporting base and adapted to contain a quantity of fluid or liquid; a piston slidable in the said cylinder and having openings extending axially therethrough for the passage of the said fluid or liquid; a piston rod attachedto the said piston; a vertically extending shaft attached to the said piston rod; a handle attached to the said shaft; a by-pass arranged exteriorly of the said cylinder; said by-pass opening at its upper end into the area of said cylinder disposed above the said piston and opening at its lower end into the area of the said cylinder disposed below the said piston; and a valve in the said by-pass for regulating the flow of the said fluid or liquid therethrough from the lower area of said piston to the upper area of the same and from one side of the said piston to the other or vice Versa; said valve being adjustable so as to vary the rate of flow of the said fluidvor liquid therethrough and thereby regulate the resistance offered to the operator of the said device in forcing the said piston either upwardly or downwardly in the said cylinder against the said fluid or liquid.

EDWIN JOSEPH STRONACH. 

